This forum has been around long enough that the answer to most questions is available to those willing to take the time to search. And I suspect there are a lot of us who come here new to hammocks and are polite enough to spend lots of time reading instead of posting every question we have or offering answers that we aren't sure are correct. I've been here almost 2 years with only 20 posts, but I've read most of the forum.
Some sub-forums, such as give-aways, require a minimum number of posts. Preventing people who just signed up from accessing these areas is smart, and long-time lurkers who don't participate at all shouldn't be allowed either. But I think a threshold based only on number of posts rewards new members who don't search and offer uneducated opinions, which are not the members you want to reward. A better system would take into account length of membership, which could also prevent people from making 50 posts in their first week. I'd recommend requiring 5 weeks of 10posts per week or 10 weeks with at least 1 post in each of those weeks. I think this would better accomplish the intent by preventing access to anybody too new while allowing access to those who have been here a long time so long as they participate some while they learn.
Also, a separate but related suggestion: block viewing of these sub-forums from those who can't participate. It's frustrating to get excited about a giveaway, read through the whole thread, and then not be allowed to participate. It's not that big of a deal, but no point in showing people things they can't have, lol.
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